SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The U.S. steel mills shipped 8.142 million net tons during the month of May this year. This is marginally down by 0.9% when compared with the shipments during the same month in 2018, says the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). It must be noted that the mills had shipped 8.210 million net tons in the same month a year before. The shipments registered marginal increase by 1.1% from the prior month. The Apr ’19 steel shipments by the U.S. mills had totaled only 8.056 million net tons.

Several products reported notable change in shipment volumes in May this year, as compared with the prior month. Upon comparison with Apr ’19, the shipments of cold rolled sheet in May this year were down by 4%. The shipment of hot dipped galvanized sheet and strip witnessed a decline of 2% over the previous month. Also, shipments of hot rolled sheets were down by 1%, AISI data said.

The year-to-date steel shipments by the U.S. mills surged higher by 3.0% over 2018 to total 40.505 million net tons until May. This compares with the shipment of 39.316 million net tons during Jan-May ’18.

Meantime, the U.S. weekly raw steel production posted marginal increase during the week ending on July 6, 2019 over the previous week. The U.S. domestic raw steel production in the week ending July 6, 2019 totaled 1.847 million net tons (NT), at a capability utilization rate of 79.4%.